Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)

What is it?

Also known as 1',4,6'-trichlorogalactosucrose, trichlorosucrose, or brand name Splenda with a molecular formula of C12H19Cl3O8, sucralose is about 600 times sweeter than sugar. Sucralose is a low-calorie sweetening agent used in beverages, foods, medications. High-intensity sweeteners are commonly used as sugar substitutes or sugar alternatives because they are many times sweeter than sugar but contribute only a few to no calories when added to foods. High-intensity sweeteners, like all other ingredients added to food in the United States, must be safe for consumption. The starting material for the synthesis of sucralose is sucrose (sugar), but then the structure is synthetically altered to achieve the sucralose compound. According to the FDA, sucralose is a food additive permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption, as long as 1) the quantity of the substance added to food does not exceed the amount reasonably required to accomplish its intended physical, nutritive, or other technical effect in food, and 2) any substance intended for use in or on food is of appropriate food grade and is prepared and handled as a food ingredient. Sucralose has been extensively studied and more than 110 safety studies were reviewed by FDA in approving the use of sucralose as a general purpose sweetener for food. However, there have been reports of headaches/migraine attacks occurring in people during sucralose use, as with other artificial sweeteners. Studies support the conclusion that sucralose consumption does not adversely affect short-term blood glucose control in patients with diabetes.^[1][2]